< Amsterdam in May | Amsterdam Travel by Month | Amsterdam in July >
Fine weather and the start of the summer festival season make June an attractive month to be in Amsterdam, but visitors should take a few special precautions to ensure a smooth travel experience. Because June is such a popular month to visit, expect crowds at attractions, restaurants and cafes, and airports and train stations; it helps to make reservations/purchase advance tickets wherever possible.
Pros
- Temperatures hover around 60°F (15°C) -- neither too hot nor too cool for active days out on the town. Still, never dismiss the chance of precipitation!
- Amsterdam's northerly location means that the sun rises early (before 5:30 a.m.) and sets late (around 10 p.m.) this time of year
- June offers some of the best seasonal perks, from convivial cafe terraces to much-anticipated summer festivals and events (see below!)
Cons
- Peak tourist season is in full effect: airfare and accommodations are pricier than in the low season (September - March), and the most desirable hotels and hostels must be booked well in advance
- Touristic hot spots like the Anne Frank House and Museum Quarter attractions have increased wait times; avoid the queues with online tickets and/or the I amsterdam card
- Amsterdam in summer, with its humid days and city-wide waterways, is an ideal environment for mosquitoes. Be prepared with insect repellent and an itch relief remedy
June Weather
- Average high: 68°F (20°C)
- Average low: 50°F (10°C)
- Average precipitation: 2.8 in (71 mm)
Yearly Festivals & Events in July
- Beeld voor Beeld Film Festival
2012 Dates: May 29 - June 3
The documentary film festival Beeld voor Beeld, held at Amsterdam's Tropics Museum, explores cultural diversity by means of cinema. Filmmakers, both students and professionals, join in to discuss cultural themes with their audiences. - Holland Festival
2012 Dates: June 1 - 28
With an international line-up of performers in an almost boundless variety of disciplines -- theater, dance, music, opera and more -- the Holland Festival treats Amsterdam to almost a month of world-class performance artistry. - Percussion Festival
2012 Dates: June 2 - 3
Percussion enthusiasts have a festival of their own in Amsterdam in June: now in its 12th edition, the Percussion Festival embraces traditions from all over the world, and stimulates audiences with a contest and workshops. - Religious Music Month at the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)
2012 Dates: June 2 - 30
This wonderful initiative of the Nieuwe Kerk offers Amsterdam a month of live performances of sacred music from Dutch and international musicians -- most of them free. - The Powerfest
2012 Date: June 3
Billed as a "unique mix of emo, (post-)hardcore, punk, metal, crunkcore and crossover", the Powerfest pairs new acts with cherished favorites to celebrate punk and its off-shoots. Note: In 2012, the Powerfest will appear in reduced format as a three-act show plus afterparty. - Vondelpark Open-Air Theater
2011 Dates: June 3 - September 2
Amsterdam's "Central Park", the Vondelpark, marks the summer season with three free performances per week, each one liable to feature theater, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy and music. - Open Garden Days
2012 Dates: June 15 - 17
Amsterdam's Open Garden Days welcomes the public into the backyards of more than 30 of the finest canal houses in town. - Rebellion Amsterdam
2012 Date: June 16
Amsterdam puts on a scaled-down, club show version of the Rebellion festival for punks who can't make it across the channel, with Cock Sparrer and Infa Riot as the 2012 headliners. - ITs Festival Amsterdam
2011 Dates: June 21 - 28
The International Theatre School Festival Amsterdam invites over 200 theatrical talents to perform in more than 70 diverse productions in its nine-day run. - Amsterdam Roots Festival
2012 Dates: June 22 - 26
This popular Amsterdam world music festival has been named Time Out Amsterdam's Best Music Festival for its diverse variety of international performers, united under a common, yearly theme. - MidzommerZaan Festival
2012 Dates: June 30 - July 1
Music, literature and fine art meet in and around the Verkade Chocolate Factory in Zaanse Schans, a tradition-oriented Dutch town, for three days of indoor and outdoor events (several with free admission).
